A pickup
romping through mud doesn't wash anymore when it comes to truck commercials.

Earlier
this year, Ford used cutting edge, computer
generated effects to virtually assemble a 2008 F-Series
Super Duty pickup in 30-seconds during the Super Bowl. The promo
used actual engineering and design data to realistically render the
truck, as ex-NFL football player Matt
Battaglia explained its important features, like the dual sequential
turbos in its 6.4-liter Powerstroke V8 diesel.

But while
computer graphics are good for simulating the impossible, nothing beats
a real-world demonstration of a truck's capabilities. The more extreme,
the better.

Which is
why in Ford's latest F-150 commercial, 'Cargo', they dropped the truck
out of the back of an 30,000-pound C-123 military transport plane, AS
IT LANDS, to demonstrate the F-150's four wheel disc brakes' stopping
power slowing the lumbering aircraft to a stop.

It might
look like it could have only been done with bits and bytes, but Ford
spokespersons say it doesn't get any more real than this. And to back
up that claim, they shot behind-the-scenes footage of the making of
'Cargo'.

Check out
the action that went on behind the camera lens, at bottom, and the
final 30-second spot.

The 'making
of' video also has quick interviews with Brad Ewing, 2nd Assistant
Director, who opened the back doors while the plane was flying (he's
the guy in the top picture) and Rich Rutherford, the stunt driver who
piloted the F-150 out the rear of the C-123.

Oh yeah,
it's got Mike Rowe, too. He hosts the on-location tour and making
of the advertisement. So while you won't see any mud, you will see
the host of Discovery Channel's 'Dirty Jobs' explain how it was done,
as only Mr. Rowe can.